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Brief History 1965-Present.
Concerted Services, Inc. (CSI) is a private non-profit organization originally established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight America's War on Poverty. CSI is one of approximately 1,000 such agencies across the nation known as a Community Action Agency (CAA). CAA's serve 96% of our nation's cities and counties.

CAA's are a primary source of support for the more than 38 million Americans who live in poverty. Through their innovative programs, these CAA's are able to help thousands of people achieve self-sufficiency each year.

To learn more about this Community Action Partnership, take a look at the following website: CommunityActionPartnership.com

CSI started doing business under the umbrella of the Slash Pine Area Planning and Development Commission in 1965 but was incorporated October 7, 1968 as a private non-profit charitable organization. It changed its name July 25, 1984 from the Slash Pine Community Action Agency, Inc. to Concerted Services, Inc. It first began operation in eight (8) southeast Georgia counties. They are: Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Pierce and Ware.

In September of 1986, Concerted Services moved into the Altamaha/Georgia Southern area and began operations in the following counties: Appling , Bulloch, Candler, Effingham, Evans, Jeff Davis, Long, Tattnall, Toombs and Wayne Counties. At this same time, other coastal counties were served by CSI. These counties are: Bryan, Camden, Glynn, Liberty and Mclntosh.

Another CAA known as Communities Acting Together (CAT) closed down operations resulting from its Board of Directors' actions in a meeting held January 5, 1987. CAT, originally known as Altamaha Area Community Action Agency, Inc., was incorporated May 18, 1965, approximately three years earlier than CSI. Mr. A.C. Harrison served as its only Executive Director from this time until he retired in 1986, approximately 21 years of service.

On July 1, 1997, CSI began providing programs on aging in the Heart of Georgia area. Those counties are: Bleckley, Dodge, Laurens, Montgomery, Pulaski, Telfair, Treutlen, Wheeler, and Wilcox. On July 1, 2000 we lost Pulaski County but gained Johnson and Emanuel counties due to county realignment. In June of 2004, CSI's NCOA (National Council on Aging) Program was discontinued due to budget restraints in Bryan, Camden, Glynn, Liberty, and McIntosh counties.

CSI Executive Board of Directors:
Rev. James Joyce, Chairman (Private Sector)
J.R. Morgan, Jr., Vice Chairman (Public Sector)
Wanda Edwards, Treasurer (Neighborhood Sector)
Gloria Paulk, Secretary (Neighborhood Sector)
Rose Bailey, Member (Neighborhood Sector)
George Goolsby, Member (Private Sector)
Charles Seckinger, Member (Public Sector)
Anthony D. Simmons, Member (Public Sector)
Rev. Andy Velie, Member (Private Sector)

CSI operates some programs in 26.7% of the State of Georgia by operating in 28 (18%) of the 159 Georgia counties.

Community Action Agencies are governed by a uniquely structured board of Directors where members come from three diverse segments of each community: 1/3 low-income; 1/3 private sector; and 1/3 public sector. The first Board Chairman was Mr. Jeofrey J. Jones who served frm 1968 until 1997. In 1986, after CSI moved into the Altamaha Georgia Southern area, the Board changed its board structure to accommodate the new area. It established the Altamaha Area Advisory Board with twenty-one (21) members. It changed its original Waycross Governing Board to an eighteen (18) member Southeast Area Advisory Board; each Board sent its four officers plus one "roving member" from the Altamaha Area to form the nine (9) member Executive Board. The Executive Board is "the official" agency board that conducts business for the agency. Mr. Jones served as Chairman of the Executive Board from 1986 (when it was formed) until 1997. He also chaired the Southeast Area Board. Mr. Jones was a banker and insurance executive until he retired. Mr. Jones was from Alma, Georgia.

The second Executive Board Chairman was Mr. Winton Bell. He served in this capacity from 1997 until 1998. Prior to that, he served as Chairman of the Altamaha/Georgia Southern Advisory Board from 1987 until 1997. Mr. Bell was a farmer/businessman and a well known and respected politician. Mr. Bell was from Bellville, Georgia.

Rev. James Joyce began his service as Board Chairman from 1998 until the present. Prior to that time, he served as Vice Chairman of the Altamaha/Georgia Southern Area Board but became the Board Chair of this board the same time he became chair of the Executive Board. Rev. Joyce is an active minister of the gospel. Rev. Joyce is a resident of Vidalia, Georgia.

In October of 2000, the Executive Board, the Altamaha Area Advisory Board and the Southeast Area Advisory Board voted to combine the two Advisory Boards into one Advisory Board and be known as CSI's Agency Advisory Board. The Agency Advisory Board voted to send its four officers to serve on the Executive Board and elected five Board members to serve on the Executive Board, maintaining CSI's nine (9) member Executive Board with representation on the Board still comprising 1/3 low-income, 1/3 private sector and 1/3 public sector. Rev. James Joyce was elected to continue as Board Chairman of the Executive Board.

In addition to expansion of counties from 8 to 28, this agency has expanded from $300,000 in 1965 to approximately 20 million in 2006 and from 75 employees in 1965 to over 400 in 2006.

CSI had a few Executive Directors to lead the agency through over thirty-nine (39) years of existence. They are as follows:

William S. (Bill) Smith - Mr. Smith was hired January 1, 1965. He was the original Executive Director of CSI (formerly Slash Pine Community Action Agency). He served from 1965 (pre-incorporation) until 1973. Prior to his service to this agency, his field of expertise was education. He was the Charlton County Superintendent of Schools when he left to head up this agency.

Irby Dell (I.D.) lngram - Mr. Ingram served as the second Executive Director of the agency. He served from 1973 to 1974. Prior to becoming Executive Director, he retired as Dean of Students at South Georgia College in Douglas.

Father Wallace Thompson - Dr. Thompson served as Executive Director from 1974 until 1977. He held a degree in Law and a Doctorate in Divinity. He also served in the Episcopal Church in Waycross.

Pate C. Lowery - Mr. Lowery served as Executive Director from 1977 to 1995. His past experience was mostly in the field of education having taught at the high school, voc-tech and college levels. He holds an A.A., B.B.A., M.ED. and M.S. degrees.

Ted R. Johnson - Mr. Johnson served as Executive Director from 1995 to 1996. He came to work with this agency in 1973 as director of our housing program. He later moved into the position of Administrative Director. He held this position until the Board appointed him as Executive Director in 1995. He holds a B.S. degree in Physics and Math and a M.S. degree in Management.

Pate C. Lowery - Mr. Lowery returned to CSI as Residential Services Director July 17,1995 then back to Executive Director November 28, 1995. After taking a leave of absence, he was hired as Head Start Director December 16, 1997. He retired on July 15, 2000.

Clarence E. Billups – Mr. Billups served as Executive Director from 1997 to 2007.  He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Savannah State University and a Master of Science Degree – Psychology, Counseling and Guidance from Valdosta State University.  Mr. Billups was the agency’s Head Start Director for twenty-five (25) years prior to be selected as the Executive Director.

Ophelia K. Gaines – Ms. Gaines was selected as the agency’s Executive Director in November 2007.  She holds a Master of Social Work, summa cum Laude, from Savannah State University, and a Bachelor of Arts: Sociology, Magna cum Laude, from Albany State College.  She is a past adjunct professor for Georgia Southern University and is currently an adjunct professor in the Masters of Social Work Department of Savannah State University.  Ms. Gaines was the agency’s Community Services Department Head for the past thirty-four years prior to being selected as Executive Director.

Concerted Services, Inc. has been doing business as one of the approximately 1,000 Community Action Agencies in the country for the past forty-one (41) years (1965 - 2006).



Belief and Commitment Statement

Concerted Services, Inc., is of the belief that all persons have the right for an opportunity to live with decency and dignity. Therefore, CSI is committed to improving the quality of life for all persons served by our own agency regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, native language, religion, creed or handicap through its programs, activities or employment practices.

CSI has a rich heritage of service in the southeastern part of our state, in which we can be proud. Thousands of people have been served in spite of the many challenges we have faced. This growth and development has been true regardless of the political parties in power. We have much to be proud of, but we face new challenges. With the continued help of staff and volunteers, we will continue to succeed.